English-learning stress and performance in Chinese college students: A serial mediation model of academic anxiety and academic burnout and the protective effect of grit

Liling Xu; Zhenhai Wang; Zhiyuan Tao; Chengfu Yu

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1032675

English-learning stress and performance in Chinese college students: A serial mediation model of academic anxiety and academic burnout and the protective effect of grit

Front Psychol. 2022 Nov 30:13:1032675. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1032675. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Liling Xu¹, Zhenhai Wang², Zhiyuan Tao², Chengfu Yu³

Affiliations

¹ School of Foreign Studies, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
² Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
³ Department of Psychology and Research Center of Adolescent Psychology and Behavior, School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China.

Abstract

Introduction: Having to adapt to a new environment with various other challenges while completing their studies, Chinese college students experience intense stress related to the study of the English language. However, there has been little research on the serial mediating mechanism of English-learning stress on English academic performance.

Methods: Present study recruited 1130 undergraduate students to finish self-report online questionnaire to collect the information about their English-learning stress, academic anxiety and burnout, English academic performance and grit. We constructed a moderated serial mediation model to test the effect of academic anxiety and academic burnout and explored whether grit can restrict the decrease in academic performance caused by English-learning stress.

Results: Results show that: (1) both academic anxiety and academic burnout mediate the relationship between English-learning stress and performance; (2) academic anxiety and academic burnout show a significant serial mediating role between academic pressure and English academic performance; and (3) grit significantly moderates the relationship between academic burnout and English academic performance.

Discussion: These results lead us to believe that cultivating the grit of Chinese college students may be an effective way to improve the academic performance of those experiencing high English-learning stress.

Keywords: Chinese university students; English academic performance; English-learning stress; academic anxiety; academic burnout; grit.